Practice Catch and Release

[Lukas]

Shannon and Fiston you guys must relax. :lol: :lol:

Shannon, I did not mean to hijack or side track your catch and release post. The reason why I mentioned polution is because the hook and cook and waste bregade can only get to so many bass. Polutiohn does more damage. Yes the hook and cookers takes large volume and they do not put the decend bass back they sometimes take everything. Your 500gr or 1kg size limit is a great idea and not many anglers think that way. It is a fact that smaller fish should be removed to improve the standard of catches.

Fishton I was not offended by your comment. Guys who get offended by shyt like that will in anycase be oblivious to the future of this country. I appreciate other people's inputs and if you highlight a topic that I know nothing about it is my duty towards my family to be up to date with current affairs. I thank you for the statement you made about the 20mil Chinese. It is worth looking into and see where my kids will fit in and what they need to do to secure a piece of the pie.

[Guest]

Lukas,
Wise words, I look forward to meeting you in person oneday.
Happy New Year, I hope you have a great 2007 in all aspects of your life.
Best regards
John

[Guest]

I walked past the television this morning while ESPN was on and just started wondering about something...

The whole world follows the USA, not in all aspects but generalising it's a fact. Even though most of us don't want to admit it. Saturdays is fishing day, we learn a lot about fishing but the most repeated thing on every show is catch and release, directly and indirectly. And so it should be, we all know this now.

But come Sunday, pull out your cammos and a rifle/bow and shoot yourself a beautiful buck, or duck, or buffalo, or elephant, or even a lion, basically whatever trophy is going to make you the man! ..... and shoot it DEAD DEAD DEAD!

I've heard the argument that some of these animals are bred for hunting, so that makes it ok. :-? But bass were introduced to our waters for exactly the same thing, hunting/sport fishing.

What do you guys think about this?

P.S I have also hunted, so my hands do have blood on them.

[robfisher]

I have hunted only once? it was on a farm in Bulawayo and I was using a shotgun to shoot Guinea fowl. I did get one and I felt awful? I have never hunted again? plus my Uncle made me eat it for supper. At least with Bass Fishing we try not to hurt the fish and let them go asap! I still feel kak when a bass dies on me? have lost 3 since I started fishing.

[robdog]

If we are realistic we will see that catch and release is intended to create and foster a sustainable resource. To correctly manage a fishery it is sometimes wise to "cull" some of the population to benefit the rest, and that is where slot limits and catch returns are essential management tools.
A lot of our waters are not correcly managed, and in light of this, anglers efforts to promote catch and release are essential.

[Guest]

If we are realistic we will see that catch and release is intended to create and foster a sustainable resource. To correctly manage a fishery it is sometimes wise to "cull" some of the population to benefit the rest, and that is where slot limits and catch returns are essential management tools.
A lot of our waters are not correcly managed, and in light of this, anglers efforts to promote catch and release are essential.

Then why isn't there some form of culling of our bass, clearly in the hot seasons they are battling due to the lack of oxygen?

[pomerob]

I am no biologist nor an expert on the correct management of ecosystems. However I do know that some water systems can only host a certain population before the habitat becomes over populated at the detriment of all in that ecosystem.

I am an avid supporter of catch and release and unless I am told that the water is overstocked and cullin is absoulutly nessasery for the good of all the upmost care will be taken to return the stock to the water. To date this has been 100% of the time mainly because ecosystems are not managed.

I have read lots of articles in SA Bass recently about overstocking/ population booms and stunted growth and other problems that arise as a result of this overpopulation.

I have a fishing weekend planned in Feb on a private farm dam which I have been looking forward to for some time now. There is one rule at the dam at the moment and that is anything under 2kg under no circumstances will go back in the water, if we try to sneak them back in and get caught we will not be welcome back.

Now instead of feeling guilty of killing scores of fish Lukas has made a plan with another farmer who wants stock. We will catch the fish and keep as many alive as possiable, transport these <2kg fish 80km to another farm and relocate them. Now we will have 2 private farm dams we will be able to fish in future. No doudt some fish will be lost which will sit heavy in my heart but at the end of the day it will be a win win situation.

[robdog]

It is certainly making the best of an unpleasant situation, and I think we owe Lukas a big thank you for organising everything!

[Fab]

Well done Lukas!!!

A great alternative to culling the fish... And as you mentioned pomeee... Another dam to fish in the future!!!!


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